Bed-bottom



(No Model.)

B. S. FIELD.

BED BOTTOM.

Patented Jan. 15, 1884.

R5, Fhnlwhlhngrzphcr. Wnhirugion. D. C.

TINTTEE STATES PATENT UEETEE.

EDWIN SCOTT FIELD, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

BED-BOTTOM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 291,888, dated January 15, 1884.

Application filed September 18, 1882.

To whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN S. FIELD, of Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Bed-Bottoms, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, where- Figure l is a top view of my improved bed. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a view in cross-section on line mo, showing crosspieces in view beyond.

My invention relates to the class of bed-bottoms in which the mattress-supporting fabric is suspended from elevated end rails, and is kept under tension by elastic connections between the parts.

It consists in the use of flexible strips running lengthwise of the bed, and in the special arrangement and combination of the mattress and end rails and parts making up the whole, as hereinafter more specifically described.

The letters a denote the side rails of a bedframe, and the letters 1) denote the end rails, secured to and raised above the side rails by suitable corner-pieces.

The letters 0 denote flexible metallic strips, running lengthwise of the bed, each of which has at each end one or more springs, d, which serve to connect the flexible strips to the end rails. These flexible strips, running lengthwise of the bed, are laterally connected together near their endsthat is, between the middle and endsby the lateral connections 6, which are joined to the lengthwise strips, so that one lengthwise strip may have longitudinal play or motion substantially independent of its neighbors, and yet not be free enough laterally to escape substantially from its proper lateral position inthe fabric. The greater part of the pivot-pinsf are rivetsthat is, are headed on both ends'but one (or more) of the longitudinal flexible metallic strips is furnished with bolts 9, with nuts underneath, in the place of rivets, that the struct- (No model.)

ure may be taken apart for packing and ship ping purposes. It will be readily understood that the jointed lateral connections will permit the longitudinal strips to be massed together sidewise when the fabric is disconnected from the end rails.

It is the end and object of my invention to suspend the flexible strips from the end rails by elastic connections, and yet use a minimum number of longitudinal strips.

To obtain the necessary strength of springs to sustain the lengthwise tension (about nine hundred pounds) under which the fabric is put up, I find about twenty springs of a convenient size are required, (although I do not limit myself to any specific number or size,) and these are secured at regular intervals along the inner edge of each end rail. As the number of springs is larger than the number of strips required, the ends of the strips are broadened, so that two or more springs are attached to each strip at each end. This broadening is preferably done by riveting or otherwise fastening to each end of the thin metallic strips a cross-piece that serves as a re-enforce to the thin strips, as well as a broadening-piece. Either or both of the end rails may be made adjustable on the side rails,

and the required tension attained at any time after the strips, springs, and rails have been assembled. It will be understood that these longitudinal strips are to be japanned, tinned, or otherwise suitably surfaced.

I claim as my improvement In combination, the side rails, a, the end rails, b, the flexible metallic strips 0; having the broadened and re-enforced ends, and the spiral springs d, the strips connected at each end to the end rails of the frame by two or more spiral springs, all substantially as described.

v EDXVIN SCOTT FIELD.

Witnesses:

SAMUEL I. HOWAETH, D. E. WEBsrER. 

